Saturday, April 26, 2014

Mapping an Ageing Planet

Slate has used the Leaflet mapping platform to create a simple but effective map of the world's ageing population. The Aging World is a heat map visualizing the percentage of each country's population who are 65 or over.

The map shows the percentage of the world's aged populations using 2010 data from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The map also includes projections for 2050 and 2100.

Much of the rise in ageing populations is due to better health care and economic prosperity around the world. However, the Slate article accompanying the map, appears to take the view that people living longer around the world is bad news for us all. I almost expected the article to end with a call for enforced euthanasia for everyone over 65.